Online MPH in Epidemiology

Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health’s online Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology prepares you to tackle some of our world’s most pressing urban health, global health, and public health issues by combining biostatistics, a public health foundation, with practical experience to help you make a difference in communities locally and globally. The goal of this program is to train you to become an expert researcher and public health worker capable of investigating complex urban and community health challenges, and developing effective strategies to prevent them.

As an MPH Epidemiology student, you will learn to apply, develop, and teach the skills needed to understand the determinants of disease and improve health using the appropriate descriptive and analytic approaches (epidemiology). In addition, the biostatistics courses provide knowledge on the development and application of theory and methods in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data used in public health and other biomedical sciences.

Program Features

• 56 quarter credits
• No GRE required
• Learn from Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health faculty members who are experts in the field
• 100% online, with no residency component
• The Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health is fully accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH), and is the highest ranked school of public health in the Philadelphia area
• Along with a focus on epidemiology, you can delve deeper into topics like maternal and child health, health disparities, LGBT health, urban health, global health, or infection prevention and control

MPH Experiential Learning Opportunities

Applied Practical Experience
Drexel Dornsife believes in providing real-world practical knowledge and skills as a part of your education. This requires creating opportunities to build in-depth understanding and a diverse breadth of knowledge that you can immediately apply in your career. You will be required to complete the Applied Practical Experience (APE) and breadth activities. The APE is a minimum of 120 hours of hands-on practical experience you receive through either a project with your current employer, an outside organization, or in an online course-based setting. The experiences can be completed remotely or near your home, which means you never have to come to campus. Drexel Dornsife will even assist you in making connections for these opportunities with public health organizations and beyond.

Likewise, "breadth" offers you monthly virtual workshops, short-term volunteer opportunities, and on- or off-campus learning opportunities. Through the program, you can pursue the APE and breadth activities in urban and global settings, working with Drexel’s partners around the globe or seeking out opportunities in the U.S. with diverse communities.

Integrative Learning Experience
As an MPH student nearing program completion, you’ll be required to enroll in the integrative learning experience (ILE). With a goal of illustrating mastery of core public health and focus-area-specific competencies, the ILE includes taking three credits in the final quarter and writing a high-quality paper.

What is an MPH in Epidemiology?

Epidemiologists look at health outcomes and diseases within populations. Their goal is to find the causes of public health issues and develop strategies to prevent them. Drexel Dornsife’s online MPH in Epidemiology prepares you for similar roles by helping you build a foundation in biostatistics, epidemiology, and public health, which you’ll use to examine real-world problems.

You’ll learn from faculty in Drexel University’s highly respected Dornsife School of Public Health, who are working on pioneering research in areas like aging, autism, social and neighborhood determinants of health, environmental risk factors, urban health, and infectious disease control and prevention.

Requirements for The MPH in Epidemiology Online

The MPH Epidemiology online program is intended for those interested in working with qualitative public health approaches, specifically epidemiology. Those with a bachelor’s degree from any background are invited to apply, however, it is highly recommended that you have taken a course in statistics prior to beginning this program and have a strong background in math and science. Six undergraduate or graduate credits in the social or behavioral sciences and three in the biological sciences are preferred as well, but not required. You are not required to have statistical software knowledge before beginning this program.

What can I do with an MPH in Epidemiology?

Careers in Epidemiology
Drexel MPH epidemiology graduates have enjoyed rewarding careers in national and local disease-prevention organizations, community-based organizations, industry, academia, government, and global public health. Upon completion of the epidemiology MPH, you will be prepared for careers both within epidemiology and within the larger public health space. Some common job titles include:

• Clinical Data Analyst
• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Data Scientist
• Director of Clinical Risk Management
• Director of Health Outcomes
• District Epidemiologist
• Epidemiologist & Surveillance Coordinator
• Health Statistician
• Healthcare Analyst
• Infection Control Specialist
• Public Health Analyst
• Senior Research Associate

For more information on careers in public health, please visit our public health industry page.

How Long Does it Take to Complete an MPH in Epidemiology?

The online MPH in Epidemiology offers multiple plans of study to accommodate your needs. Choose between:

• 18 Months
  This plan allows you to complete the program by March of your second year. You may be eligible for a research assistantship. You will also have the time to do an internship over the summer should you choose.
  Expect to spend: 40-60 hours of coursework each week
• 21 Months
  This plan allows you to complete the program in less than 2 years, but still work if you choose. You may be eligible for a research assistantship. You will have the time to do an internship over the summer should you choose.
  Expect to spend: 30-50 hours of coursework each week
• 33 Months
  This plan allows you to finish the program in less than 3 years while still working full-time. You may be eligible for a Research Assistantship. You will also have time to do an internship over the summer if you so choose.
  Expect to spend: 18-20 hours of coursework each week
• Flexible Plan of Study
  We understand that sometimes you need to go at your own pace. Working closely with your program manager, you can create a customized plan of study that works best for you. On the application, please select the 21-month option. Then set up time to meet with your program manager prior to registering for your first class to discuss your options further.

MPH in Epidemiology Salary Expectations

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for an epidemiologist is around $83,980 a year. Epidemiologists typically need a master’s degree to enter the profession. The BLS is predicting a 30% job growth rate by 2030, which is much faster than the national average for all careers. Visit our public health industry page to learn more about salaries within the public health field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Online MPH in Epidemiology Program Asynchronous?
Online MPH in Epidemiology classes are conducted asynchronously, which means you are not required to be online at a specific time for course instruction. However, many of our classes include group work. In these instances, you will be asked to find time to meet online with other students to complete the small group projects.

Drexel's 10,000 Hours Podcast: Sharrelle Barber

How can where you live affect your health? For Black communities, their neighborhoods can literally make them sicker. Sharrelle Barber, an assistant research professor at Drexel, looks at the intersection of place, racism, and health.

Related Programs

• Executive MPH
• MPH: Global Health
• MPH: Urban Health
• Certificate in LGBT Health
• Certificate in Maternal and Child Health
• Certificate in Public Health
• Certificate in Urban Health
• Certificate in Infectious Disease Prevention and Control
• On-Campus Public Health Programs

Drexel University offers a variety of Graduate Minors that can be added to any master's degree program.
State restrictions may apply to some programs.